Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-08-11
THE SUN DANCE.
Realistic Description of That
Relic of Barbarism as Per-
formed by the Aborigines.
A Ceremony Which Will be an
Almost Forgotten Rite a Dozen
Years From Now.
THE SUN DANCE.

THE SUN DANCE.
Same Old Circus-A Pretty Tame Dance-A
Young Buck Makes the Torture Business
A Commercial Transaction.
Sunday was supposed to be one oi
the gala days Of the sun dance, and 9
lot Of the wicked citizens Of Macleod
strung themselves out toward the
Blood reserve at about 10 o'clock in
the morning. The morning was very
hot, but a cool and refreshing breezs
famed away the rough edges Of the
sun, and made the drive pleasant.
Down partially washed out ooulse,
through the brush, across Q small
stream and splash into the river. The
The journey Is over, and stretched
away in the distance one sees the
picturesque sight Of somei2O0 Indian
lodges laid out with some small idea
of regularity. The beating Of the
drums, the faint echo of the mono.
tonous Indian song, the barking Of
dogs and all the other noises peculiar
to largeI indian camp, are carried to-
ward US on the western breeze, as the
horses. dripping from a deep ford in
the river left us out on dry land. In
the midst Of this large concourse OF
tents stands the center Of attraction,
the Sun Lodge, the temple wherein
these heathen savages conduct their
pagan ceremonies, and make their of.
ferings to their great deity the sun.
This can be seen from all parts Of the
country. 1t has thus far
held its own against the advancing
tide of Christianity, end seems to have
as firm hold on the Indian mind as
ever.
The Sun Lodge, or Medicine Lodge,
lie situated as near the middle Of the
camp rs possible. In form IL 10 circu.
lar, and about thirty feet In diamter.
A thick log, sunk deep into the ground
makes the center. and heavy ridge
poles extend from the top Of 1t to other
heavy poles supported about four feet
from The ground. Over all this green
bous- his are spread. On the top Of the
center pole are fastened the offerings
TO the sun.
From appearances this year the In
dians must feel very poor, for the Of
ferings are very mesgre. and not In
the best state Of preservation.
The actual ceremonies In connec-
lion with this dance are very tiresome,
rs are Gil these Indian ceremonies, II
they can be dignified with such a
name. There may be an occasional
extra shuttle in the dance, but is the
same old thing. the same old song, and
the same old tune. II makes one
tired. About the only thing which
can excite ones curiosity IL the max
ing of q brave. On Sunday one In
dian went through the ordeal. In the
olden time, when there was really q
good deal Of torture connected with
this ceremony, there might have been
something In II worth seeing. Now,
however, 1t 10 different. No braves
were to be made this year, and the
one who finally submitted to the op
GRAFTON offered himself for IS. Mr.
Boone, the enterprising photographer
had bargained with the buck for that
amount. After about an hour Of tire.
some waiting q ghost-like figure glid'
ed into the lodge. closed bis fingers
over the IS, and glided out again.
Another hour and . half and the vic-
tim had not returned, and both the
photographer and the people began to
think that after he had the
money safe in his pocket he had
his mind. Everyone left the
lodge to start for home, and just Of
that moment the ghostly apparition
ready for the fray. He
was powdered all over with polka dots
Of yellow which made him look some.
hing like o hail storm. His only
was . bresoh cloth. Lying
On his back on the ground, three or
'our Indians got about about him, and
he operating began. Pinching the
leah between two fingers, 1t was pull.
I'd out and knife run through II. A
. small stick, about two inches long.
WAS run into the incision, and that
Was done. The same operation was
repeated on the back. To the latter .
'hield was fastened. A raw-hids ias-
at, doubled. hung from the center
pole and one Of these ends was fAst-
md to the stick In each breast. TAX
ng one In each hand the candidate
'or glory yanked at tthem all his might.
Then leaning backwards he yanked -
hem with all his might. Then lean
ng backward he threw hIs full weight
IN the ropes. and suspending by the